Paving member

ABSTRACT

A paving member ( 2 ) comprising a surface ( 4 ) for being walked on, an image ( 6 ) below the surface ( 4 ), and a source of light for illuminating the paving member ( 2 ), the paving member ( 2 ) being of such a material and construction that the image ( 6 ) is viewable by a person walking on the surface ( 4 ), and the source of light being such that it makes the image ( 6 ) visible at night and also provides light at night for the environment ( 8 ) adjacent the paving member ( 2 ). The image may be a static image or a moving image. The image may be a hologram. The image may be changed by remote control means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a paving member such for example as a pavingslab or a paving block. The paving member may be used in a wide varietyof places including paved, blocked and tarmaced areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Places that are subject to a lot of pedestrian traffic includepavements, walkways, recreational areas, patios, shopping malls, andareas in supermarkets and hypermarkets. There are often occasions atnight when these places could be better lit, for example public andprivate spaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the abovementioned problem whilst at the same time providing the opportunity forthe minimisation of expense of the cost of lighting.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a paving member which isinstalled in a hole in an area which is for being walked on, the holebeing defined by adjacent edges of the area, the paving member beingsuch that it is flush with the adjacent edges of the area, and thepaving member being such that it comprises a tray-shaped rigid bodyportion which has four sides and a base and which enables a person towalk on the paving member in the hole, a lip which extends outwardlyfrom the four sides and is located in a countersunk part of saidadjacent edges of said area wherein said lip is level with said adjacentedges, securing means which permanently secures the paving member in ahorizontal position in the hole, a surface for being walked on and whichextends horizontally in the hole at a height which makes the surfacelevel with the area for being walked on wherein a person is able to walkover the paving member and the area for being walked on withouttripping, image-generating means which generates a moving image belowthe surface, and a source of light which illuminates the paving member,the paving member being such that the surface is made of a materialwhich is transparent wherein the image is able to be viewed by theperson walking on the surface, the moving image is viewed by the personthrough a major part of the surface, the image-generating meansgenerates the moving image on a screen positioned below the surface, thescreen is spaced apart from the surface wherein cooling air is able tocirculate between the screen and the surface, and the screen is selectedfrom the group consisting of a television screen, a liquid crystaldisplay screen, a light emitting diode screen, a plasma screen, alaser-receiving screen, or a projection screen wherein the moving imageviewed on the screen is a film, video or televisual image.

The paving member of the present invention is thus able to provide lightat night for the environment adjacent the paving member so that thepaving member and its surroundings may easily be seen. In cases wherethe image below the surface of the paving member is an advertisingimage, then there is an advantageous opportunity for organisations doingthe advertising to pay for the lighting. Thus, in the case of pavedareas open to the public and maintained by local Councils or the like,the local Councils or the like can avoid or reduce the cost of lightingthese areas by selling advertising space in the public areas toorganisations who firstly wish to advertise and who secondly will payfor the electricity involved in powering the light source. Thus thepresent invention affords the opportunity for lighting paved areas atreduced or no cost to local Councils or similar organisations. Inaddition, the present invention affords the opportunity for the pavedareas to be better lit than they would otherwise be, which provides asignificant advantage to members of the public using the paved areas.For example, the number of people accidentally tripping over or beingmugged may be drastically reduced in well lit areas as opposed to darkareas.

The image is a moving image. The moving image may be a hologram movingimage. The holographic image may be recorded in an emulsion on thesurface of a film or glass plate. Two laser light sources (the objectbeam and the reference beam) may interact at the point at which theymeet creating an interference pattern which freezes the informationcarried by the object beam, thereby forming the holographic image.

The paving member may be linked to remote control means for remotelychanging the image. The paving member and the remote control means maythen form part of a system, for example an advertising system. Wherethere is more than one paving member, the images on the paving membersmay be controlled singly, in a series, or in a group.

The transparent material may be a transparent plastics material. Thetransparent plastics material may be a clear polyacrylate or any othersuitable and appropriate transparent plastics material. The transparentmaterial may alternatively be glass.

Advantageously, the surface of the paving member is a slip retardantsurface.

The moving image is obtained by using a television screen, a liquidcrystal display screen, a light emitting diode screen, a plasma screen,a laser-receiving screen, or a projection screen. Images on the screencan be under the control of a central control. Thus, for example, acentral control from an advertising agency, or the head office ofTesco's, could be directly or indirectly connected to the screen, byusing electronic means, radio signals, a telephone cable etc. By havingthis facility, it would no longer be necessary for a person tophysically visit the paving the member each time a new image, forexample for a new advertising promotion, was required to be shown.

The moving hologram image may appear to rise out of the floor.

The moving image may be chosen to coincide with any advertising campaigncurrently running.

The image may be viewable from different directions, both during the dayand at night.

The paving member may be one in which there is more than one of theimages. The different images may be viewable from different directions.The paving member may be regarded as a screen with the images showing onthe screen. The paving member may be a moulded paving member, or it maybe made in other ways if desired.

The paving member may be one in which the surface of the paving memberis the upper surface of a sheet portion. The sheet portion may have apair of opposed side walls for supporting the sheet portion above theground. The image may then be on an underneath surface of the sheetportion.

The underneath surface of the sheet portion may be provided with ridges.The paving member may then be one in which the ridges have first andsecond flat sides, and in which a first image is viewable on the firstsides, and a second image is viewable on the second sides.

The paving member of the present invention may be one which isconstructed as a paving member for use in pavements. The source of lightmay direct light away from a road bordered by the paving member. Such aconstruction is advantageous in that traffic using the road will thennot be confused with the light from the pavement. If desired, the sourceof light in the paving member may be masked or otherwise shielded inorder that light is not directed to unwanted places.

The source of the light may be a light emitting diode, a neon striplight, or a bulb. More than one source of light may be employed ifdesired.

The body portion may be in the form of a tray or a frame. The bodyportion may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials includingmetals such for example as pressed steel, stainless steel or galvanisedsteel. The body portion may receive the remainder of the paving memberwhich may be appropriately located in the body portion, for exampleusing a rubber seal.

The securing means helps to stop the paving member becoming loose duringuse, or being deliberately removed by vandals. Any suitable type ofsecuring means may be employed, for example a spike. Formations such asthose employed to retain “cats eyes” in the ground may also be used.

The paving member of the present invention may be made of any suitablesize and shape. Thus, for example, the paving member may be rectangular,square or octagonal. The paving member may be in the form of pavingslabs or paving blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first paving member in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second paving member in use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third paving member in use;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth paving member in use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fourth paving member shown in FIG.4; and

FIG. 6 shows an advertising system in which several paving members areconnected to remote control means linked to the paving members via acable connection;

FIG. 7 is a system similar to FIG. 6 except that the connection from theremote control means to the paving members is a radio connection;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a paving member ofthe present invention suitable for having a moving screen;

FIG. 9 shows a pavement with a paving member of the present invention,the paving member having an image in the form of a hologram; and

FIG. 10 shows in more detail the paving member shown in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a paving member 2 comprising asurface 4 for being walked on. An image 6 is below the surface 4. Asource of light (not shown) is provided for illuminating the pavingmember 2.

The paving member is of such a material and construction that the imageis viewable by a person walking on the surface 4. More specifically, thepaving member 2 is made of a moulded transparent plastics material.Alternatively the paving member 2 may be moulded from transparent glass.The light source is such that it makes the image 6 visible at night, andalso provides light at night for the environment 8 adjacent the pavingmember 2. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the paving member 2 is positionedin a pavement 10 running along the side of a road 12. Thus the source oflight is able to illuminate the environment 8 around the paving member2, which environment 8 can include the pavement 10 around the pavingmember 2.

The paving member 2 has significant advantages. Firstly, the pavingmember 2 is able to light up the pavement 10 around the paving member 2.Persons walking along the pavement 10 are thus able to walk at night inmore safety than would be the case if lighting were not provided. Forexample, persons walking at night with good visibility are less likelyto trip over or otherwise have an accident. The persons are also lesslikely to be mugged in well lit areas than in dark areas. A secondadvantage of the paving member 2 is one of a cost saving. Morespecifically, local Councils traditionally pay for the cost of lightingpavements. This is expensive since there are so many pavements. In thepresent case, the image 6 is advertising material as can be seen fromFIG. 1. The firm benefiting from the advertising material can be causedto pay for the cost of the lighting, and if desired, the cost ofinstalling the paving member 2. Thus local Councils or otherorganisations are able to obtain free of charge lighting for areas usedby the public. A third advantage of the paving member 2 is thatmanufacturers and merchants are able to obtain a novel form ofadvertising at low cost. A fourth advantage of the paving member 2 isthat members of the public are able to benefit from well lit areas thatmight otherwise not be lit. Also, the member of the public are also ableto benefit from seeing whatever images are in the paving member 2.

The surface 4 is a non-slip surface in order to ensure that persons donot slip on the paving member 2. The non-slip surface may be a rough orother appropriate type of surface. The image 6 is a static image whichis formed as part of the paving member 2.

FIG. 2 shows a paving member 14 with a surface 16 for being walked on,and also with an image 18 which as shown is the word “road”. Thus thepaving member 14 can be used to warn persons that a road 20 is beingapproached. The paving member 14 is placed on the edge of a pavement 22adjacent kerb stones 24. The road 20 is provided with a drain 26 asshown.

FIG. 3 shows several of the paving members 14 installed on a pavement22. The pavement 22 can be made of paving slabs as shown in FIG. 2 or itcan be made of tarmac as shown in FIG. 3. As shown, all of the pavingmembers 14 in FIG. 3 are adjacent the kerb stones 24 in order to warnpeople on the pavement 22 where the road 20 is. As shown in FIG. 3, thelight from the source of light is arranged to shine upwardly andinwardly but not outwardly on to the road 20. This can thus avoid thepossibility of drivers on the road 20 being confused by light from thepaving members 14.

Where the paving member 14 has an image 18 showing the word ROAD as inFIG. 2, it will be apparent that the image 18 is not advertisingmaterial. The image 18 is basically road safety material. In this case,local Councils or other organisations would probably pay for the cost ofthe lighting as part of their road safety budget. For example it couldbe used for public safety in airports, railway stations, shopping malls,cinemas etc.

FIG. 4 shows a paving member 28 in a pavement 30. The paving member 28is of a construction which is best seen from FIG. 5. More specifically,the paving member 28 has a surface 32 for being walked on. This surface32 is the upper surface of a sheet portion 34. The sheet portion 34 hasa pair of opposed side walls 36, 38 for supporting the sheet portion 34above the ground. The side walls 36, 38 are such that the surface 32 islevel with the upper surface of paving slabs 40 forming the pavement 30.

The paving member 28 is such that it has two of the images. Morespecifically, the underneath surface of the sheet portion 34 is providedwith ridges 42. Each ridge 42 has one flat side 44 which faces the sidewall 36, and one flat side 46 which faces the side wall 38. All or themajority of the sides 44 contain parts of a first image. All or themajority of the sides 46 contain parts of a second image. When thepaving member 28 is viewed from the direction of the arrow 48, then thefirst image on the sides 44 are able to be seen. When the paving member28 is viewed from the direction of the arrow 50, then the second imageon the sides 46 is able to be seen. Thus the paving member 28 is able tohave two separate images which are viewable when the paving member 28 isapproached from different directions, that is from the directions of thearrows 48 and 50.

FIG. 6 shows two paving members 52 with advertising material in the formof advertising material of NIKE®, Inc., including logos and designs. Thepaving members 52 are set in a pavement 54. Control means 56 is employedfor controlling the advertising material on the paving members 52. Thecontrol means 56 comprises a computer 58 having a screen 60 which showsthe advertising material on the paving members 52. The computer 58 alsohas a control box 62 which is mounted on a table 64 and which isconnected via cables 66 and connection boxes 70, 72, 74 to the pavingmembers 52. Also shown in FIG. 6 are underground power cables 76, 78,80.

The control means 56 is able to provide moving or still images, forexample for an advertising campaign. The moving or still images areprogrammed into the computer 58, for example using any suitable andappropriate means such as a digital versatile disc or the Internet. Theprogrammed images are then transmitted along the cable 66 to the pavingmembers 52.

FIG. 7 shows a similar system to that shown in FIG. 6. Similar partshave been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison andunderstanding. In FIG. 7, a cable 82 from the computer 58 leads to atransmitter 84. The transmitter 84 is connected by a cable 86 to atransmitter aerial 88. Appropriate signals are thus transmitted from thetransmitter aerial 88 to a receiver aerial 90. Signals received by thereceiver aerial 90 are transmitted to a receiver 92 which then relaysthe signals along a cable 94 such that the required advertising imagesare shown in the paving members 52.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 the images can be controlled singly, in a series, or ina group (i.e. a block).

FIG. 8 shows a paving member 96 with an image which is in the form ofadvertising for NIKE®, Inc., including logos and designs, but whichcould be any suitable and appropriate type of image. The image may be amoving or still image. The image is formed on a screen 97 which ispositioned underneath a screen 98. The screen 98 may be a glass or aplastics screen 98. Seals 100 are employed as shown. The paving member96 has image generating means 102 which includes the screen 97. Theimage generating means 102 is a light emitting diode device, a liquidcrystal display device, a plasma device, or a conventional televisionscreen device.

FIG. 9 shows a pavement 106 in front of an advertising display 108 for aNIKETOWN® retail store. The pavement 106 has a paving member 110 withthe NIKE® tick 112 logo of NIKE® Inc. in the form of a hologram. Thehologram extends horizontally along the pavement 106. Any suitable andappropriate type of image may replace the image 112. Thus, for example,the image can be changed in dependence upon a particular type ofadvertising campaign.

FIG. 10 shows in more detail the paving member 110 shown in FIG. 9. Ascan be seen, the paving member 110 has a frame 114 containing a laserbox 116. The laser box 116 enables the image in the form of the Niketick 112 or any other suitable and appropriate image to be lasered.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention describedabove with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by wayof example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, forexample, the or each image may be any suitable and appropriate type ofimage. The image may be composed of words and/or pictures and/ornumbers. The words may be in a single language or in several languages.The images may be provided in the paving member of the present inventionby any suitable and appropriate means including placing appropriateimages in the paving member during moulding, or printing after thepaving member has otherwise been produced. The paving member may be madefrom any suitable and appropriate materials. The materials will usuallybe totally transparent but, if desired, opaque and/or transluscentportions may be employed. Much depends upon the type of imaging usedbecause the light from the source of light can be arranged to shinethrough transparent or translucent images, or around opaque images.Either way the images will be illuminated and will thus be visible. Anysuitable and appropriate source of light may be employed. The or eachsource of light may be employed in the paving member may be providedwith appropriate shields or reflectors to shield or reflect the light asmay be desired. The paving member can be of any suitable and appropriatesize and shape so that, if desired, the paving member may be providedwith more than four sides. The paving member can be located in positionin the same way that surrounding paving members are located in position.If desired, two or more of the paving members of the present inventioncan be used together to create a larger effect than would be attainablewith just one paving member of the invention.

1. A paving member which is installed in a hole in an area which is forbeing walked on, the hole being defined by adjacent edges of the area,the paving member being such that it is flush with the adjacent edges ofthe area, and the paving member being such that it comprises atray-shaped rigid body portion which has four sides and a base and whichenables a person to walk on the paving member in the hole, a lip whichextends outwardly from the four sides and is located in a countersunkpart of said adjacent edges of said area wherein said lip is level withsaid adjacent edges, securing means which permanently secures the pavingmember in a horizontal position in the hole, a surface for being walkedon and which extends horizontally in the hole at a height which makesthe surface level with the area for being walked on wherein a person isable to walk over the paving member and the area for being walked onwithout tripping, image-generating means which generates a moving imagebelow the surface, and a source of light which illuminates the pavingmember, the paving member being such that the surface is made of amaterial which is transparent wherein the image is able to be viewed bythe person walking on the surface, the moving image is viewed by theperson through a major part of the surface, the image-generating meansgenerates the moving image on a screen positioned below the surface, thescreen is spaced apart from the surface wherein cooling air is able tocirculate between the screen and the surface, and the screen is selectedfrom the group consisting of a television screen, a liquid crystaldisplay screen, a light emitting diode screen, a plasma screen, alaser-receiving screen, or a projection screen wherein the moving imageviewed on the screen is a film, video or televisual image.
 2. A pavingmember according to claim 1 in which the moving image is a hologrammoving image.
 3. A paving member according to claim 1 in which thetransparent material is a transparent plastics material.
 4. A pavingmember according to claim 3 in which the transparent plastics materialis a clear polyacrylate material.
 5. A paving member according to claim1 in which the transparent material is glass.
 6. A paving memberaccording to claim 1 in which the surface of the paving member is aslip-retardant surface.
 7. A paving member according to claim 1 in whichthe surface of the paving member is the upper surface of a sheetportion.
 8. A paving member according to claim 7 in which the underneathsurface of the sheet portion is provided with ridges.
 9. A paving memberaccording to claim 8 in which the ridges have first and second flatsides, and in which a first image is viewable on the first sides, and asecond image is viewable on the second sides.
 10. A paving memberaccording to claim 1 in which the paving member is constructed as apaving member for use in pavements.
 11. A paving member according toclaim 1 and which is linked to remote control means for remotelychanging the moving image.
 12. A paving member according to claim 1 inwhich the image generating means is spaced apart the sides of the bodyportion.
 13. A paving member according to claim 12 in which the imagegenerating means is spaced apart from the base of the body portion.